New look for Linux

Yesterday, Helix Code released McKinley, a beta release of its GNOME desktop for Linux. The free software package incorporates some of the GNOME fixes and includes a much easier install process and support for continuing software updates. McKinley is currently available for Red Hat Linux, SuSE Linux, Mandrake, Caldera OpenLinux, and LinuxPPC, with support for other platforms in the works.

In addition to improving its graphical interface for Linux, Helix Code is also working on Evolution, a “groupware” app with mail, calendar, and address book components, and making improvements to the spreadsheet called “Gnumeric.”

McKinley and all Helix Code software is free, though a CD will be available in April for a nominal fee.

SAM'S OPINION
Helix Code's website appears to be down right now (8:15 A.M. EST) so I didn't get a chance to check any screenshots or anything, but this sort of news is always welcome. The key thing to remember here is that this software is FREE, as is Linux, the OS McKinley is designed to run on top of. I wonder if Helix Code chose the name “McKinley” to purposefully contrast itself with Intel, which used McKinley as a code name for one of its chips? Hmmm …

Projects like GNOME are designed to make it easier to use Linux by providing a familiar, easier-to-use graphical interface, and Helix Code and others like it continue to work in the Open Source manner to make using Linux even easier. Because it's Open Source, the software is always free and developed from a wide variety of programmers with access to the code.

Despite the fact that Linux is free, the big boys like Microsoft don't worry too much about Linux right now because the vast majority of computer users wouldn't know what to do with an operating system that isn't mouse-driven and super-easy. GNOME and other Linux desktop creators (e.g., KDE) are developing familiar-looking GUIs driven by mouse, though, and they're going to close the gap on Windows quickly. It may take a little longer because it's Open Source, but the end products will be so much better because of the wide engineering and design input.

Even if you can't imagine yourself leaving Windows behind, as Linux and its tireless champions continue to make progress you should be happy, since the existence of viable alternatives should (we hope!) spur companies like Microsoft to continue improving their OSes while keeping an eye on price.